Risen (Rise of the Iliri, #10)

by Auryn Hadley

Fall in love with her, Tyr. Fall so hard you'll fight us for her. Treat her like the most amazing woman you've ever known, a queen and a friend, all at the same time. Seduce her mind, love her body, and push her to her limits. Argue with her. Do all the things you want to, and never let the idea of us get in your way. Don't worry about what we'll think. Don't hold back because we used to do something. Tyr, right now, the Kaisae of three species has only two men to keep her from going insane. You and Blaz. That means you need to be everything we can't.

I did na doubt ya. Jase's thought was oddly gentle. Ya have always been good ta her. Ya took care of her when ya did na have ta. I trust ya, Blaz, and ya will make a good Viernor.

I am her first mate, Jase told him. Just because I am na that now does na mean that I will na be again. My job is ta handle the things she should na. Zep's is ta distract her while I do. Kolt's is ta give us someone ta lean on. Gage organizes it all. Ya? We will figure out where ya fit, but ya still get the benefits of the pack. Use us. Ask us. Even if ya think it is stupid, we will na. This is what it means ta have brothers.

Thank ya, Jase told him. Na fer that, but fer this. Fer being there, and fer taking the chance even when ya thought ya did na have one. It could be the thing ta save our species. I'm not that special, Blaz reminded him. Yeh, Jase said, ya are. Ya are a human who convinced the Kaisae of all Anglia ta live again. I think that makes ya the most special person on the continent.

Blaz groaned. "I never thought I'd say this, but Tyr, get your hand off her dick."

Stop looking at my dick. Stop talking about my dick. Stop thinking about my dick, and please don't make me think about you thinking about my dick - because this isn't helping!"

"Yeah. See, love? It's not a thing that has to be split. Giving more to one person doesn't mean there's less for someone else. No, that's how time works, not love, and if anyone can love that much, it's you: the woman who loved so hard she saved an entire species."

Loving someone doesn't make that person right. It doesn't remove their flaws. Real love is when you meet in the middle. It's when you push back, and they give you space."

Don't waste time feeling bad about what's already happened. Just keep going. Fix the mistakes you make, and embrace the good things while they're still around."

We risk our lives for the ones that matter, because keeping them alive, even if they're grieving, is what love is about, isn't it? Hasn't that been what you've spent so long proving to me?

"Human," he told her. "Also dominant, have dull teeth and a big dick. I'm poorly trained, have atrocious manners, and always speak my mind. I'm also damned good on the battlefield."